Luggage sling



June 21,1966 A. J. BROWNING 3,

LUGGAGE SLING Filed Nov. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. BROWNING BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8| PINE ATTORNEYS June 21, 1966 A. J. BROWNING LUGGAGE SLING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1964 INVENTOR. ARTHUR J. BROWNING BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN,DURHAM 6 PINE ATTORNEYS June 21, 1966 A. J. BROWNING 3,257,051

LUGGAGE SLING Filed Nov. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. ARTHUR J. BROWNING FIG. 7

MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8 PINE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,257,051 LUGGAGE SLING Arthur J. Browning, 4001 Harold St., Downers Grove, Ill. Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 413,693 9 Claims. (Cl. 224-29) This invention relates generally to the transportation of conventional suitcases, trunks or hand luggage, and relates more particularly to a new and improved luggage sling for securing together two or'mo-re of such suitcases or trunks when they are being transported, for example, by a wheeled carrier device.

Various wheeled carrier devices are available for facilitating the transportation of the luggage of an individual traveler. These may vary from simple hand trucks to specially constructed cases and trunks having built-in wheels and handles. When two or more suitcases or pieces of luggage are transportated by means of such carriers, it is necessary to strap or bind together the cases securely to each other and to the carrier.

Heretofore, it has been customary to secure two or more suitcases together by a strap or other suitable binding means which completely envelopes all the cases and is then attached to the carrier device. This is inconvenient and disadvantageous in that it requires the entire binding to be loosened and removed although it may be desired to remove only one case, as, for example, the outer case. Further, this customary luggage strapping technique requires a carrier having a supporting platform wide enough to accommodate two or more cases. Where the wheeled carrier device is attached directly to a first suitcase, it requires that an additional ear or flange be attached to the first suitcase to serve as a support for the second luggage case.

In accordance with the invention, a conventional suitcase may be readily attached to a wheeled carrier device such as, e.g., a wheel carriage and handle assembly, while holding additional pieces of luggage to the wheeled case and permitting one of the additional pieces to be removed without detaching the wheeled case from the carrier device. The luggage sling of this invention can easily transport two luggage cases on a luggage carrier having only a. narrow platform adapted to accommodate only one suitcase. Also, the sling is capable of transporting conventional suitcases which need not be altered or modil'ied in anyway.

An object of this invention is to provide a luggage sling for holding two or more pieces of luggage together and which permits one of the pieces to be removed without, loosening the sling from the remaining pieces of luggage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a luggage sling for holding two or more pieces of luggage to each other and to a wheeled carrier device and which permits one of the pieces to be removed while the remaining pieces of luggage are still secured to the carrier.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a luggage sling for holding together a plurality of pieces of luggage, fastening means which permit one of the pieces to be removed without loosening the sling from the remaining pieces of luggage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a luggage sling which readily permits a wheel carriage and handle assembly to be attached to a conventional piece of luggage and which holds one or more additional pieces of luggage thereto in such a manner that the additional pieces may be removed without detaching the Wheel carriage and handle assembly.

Objects and advantages of ,this invention are set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious heref-rom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same Patented June 21, 1966 'ice being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

Brie-fly described, the present invention is in a novel luggage sling which preferably comprises a single, continuous strap member having novel fastening means permitting the strap to secure two or more pieces of luggage together and permitting one of the pieces to be removed without loosening the strap from the remaining pieces of luggage.

The fastening means, according to a first embodiment, comprises an integral buckle-hook member fixed to one end of a flexible strap and a ring member fixed to the other, free end of the strap. The integral buckle-hook member comprises a conventional fastening buckle provided with an upwardly extending hook. The free end is adapted to be folded back over itself and the ring member fitted over the hook of the buckle-hook member after the strap has first been threaded through the buckle, cinched securely about the first case,v and the free end then passed around the'second case.

Another embodiment for the fastening means includes the use of a conventional buckle anda synthetic fastening material located on both sides of the free end of a single, continuous flexible strap member and on two spaced sec:- tions on the same side of said strap member. The free end is threaded through the buckle, the strap cinched down on the first case, the free end passed around the second case, and then folded back under itself in a direction toward the buckle until the faced surfaces of the strap are opposite each other and in alignment with the faced sides of the free end. By pressing the faced surfaces of the strap together, the fastening material interlocks and the cases are held firmly together.

A further embodiment for the fastening means comprises a conventional buckle, a hook fastened to the free end of a single, continuous flexible strap, and a grommet formed near the free end of the strap. With one end of thestrap fixed to the buckle, the free end threaded therethrough, and the strap cinched downtigh-tly on'tla'e first case, the free end is passed around the secondcase', doubled back over itself, and hooked in the grommet.

As a still further embodiment, the luggage sling may comprise two separate straps. A first strap passes around a first piece of luggage and is cinched securely thereabout, either through a conventional buckle or an integral buckle hook member. A second strap has fixed to one end thereof a ring or hook for fastening to the integral bucklehook member or a grommet, respectively, of the first strap, after first passing around a handle or other portion of additional luggage and through a retaining ring fixed to the other end thereof.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof. Thus, While the luggage sling of this invention is particularly adapted to use with a wheel carriage and handle assembly as describd in my copending application, S.N. 355,346, filed March 27, 1964, and which adapted to such usage, reference will be made hereinafter thereto in order to provide an example of apractical and useful embodiment of the invention.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodimentof the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a luggage sling embodying the invention, securing both a combined wheel-and-handle assembly and a small conventional suitcase to a larger conventional suitcase, all in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken along lines IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view taken along lines IIIIII of FIGURE 1; I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the integral buckle-hook-andaring fastening means of the luggage sling illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a first modified fastening means for the luggage sling embodying the invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating a second modified fastening means for the luggage sling embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational View illustrating a third embodiment of a luggage sling embodying the invention, securing two conventional suitcases together, which are illustrated in a fragmentary, diagrammatic manner.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 a luggage sling, designated generally by reference numeral 10, securing a wheel carriage and handle assembly, designated gen erally 12, to a conventional piece of luggage 14 and securing a second conventional piece of.luggage 16 of the wheeled piece 14, each of the pieces of luggage being illustrated diagrammatically Wheel carriage and handle assembly 12 may be of the type described in my aforementioned copending application and reference should be made thereto for a full understanding thereof. Briefly, it includes a longitudinally extensible handle member 20 telescopically mounted in channel adapter 21 and having a hand gripping bar 22. Channel adapter 2 1 is mounted at one end to a wheel carriage assembly 2-4 including a base member 25 having an overlying end flap 26 formed with a slot 27 through which one end 31 of strap member of the luggage sling 10 passes.

Luggage sling 10 preferably comprises a single, continuous strap 30 which may be formed in a well known manner of cotton, nylon, or other suitable material, and fastening means slidably engageable therewith. As here preferably embodied, this fastening means comprises an integral buckle-hook member 40 of generally open rectangular configuration having end pieces 41, 42 and across-piece 44 having a saw-toothed edge 44a. End piece 41 is affixed to the upper end of handle assembly 12 through strap 37 and ring 38, or by other suitable means. The opposite end 42 of member 40 is formed into a hook-like member 43 extending upwardly therefrom and curved slightly towards end 41.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, strap 30 may be fixed at its one end3 1 to base member 25 by means of slot 27 in flap 26. The free end 32 of strap 30 encircles suitcase 14 and is threaded through the buckle-hook member 40 by passing over cross-piece 44 and end piece 42. The strap may thereafter be cinched tightly about the case, adge 44a preventing slippage, in a well known manner, The remaining free end thereafter encircles a handle 17 or other suitable portion of conventional suitcase 16 whereupon it is doubled-back over the strap and ring 34 placed over hook 43.

It will be understood that where the suitcases are being attached to a hand-truck or other conventional wheeling device, strap 30 may completely encircle one of the vsuitcases and end 31 afiixed directly to end-piece 41 of buckle-hook member 40, after first passing around a suitable rigid portipn 9f the carrier device.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment for the fastening means of my luggage sling illustrated in FIG- URES 1-4. As here embodied, the fastening means comprises a conventional buckle 50 including a cross piece 51 having a saw tooth edge 51a forming a slot 52 with end piece 53 thereof, and a synthetic fastening material 55 applied to both sides of the free end 32 of strap member 30 as well as to two spaced lengths on the generally outer side of the strap 30 a predetermined distance from the free end 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Fastening material 55 preferably comprises a plurality of complementary tiny hooks and loops. When pressed together, the hooks look into the loops and, because of the numerous hooks and loops, they hold securely. This material may be of the type manufactured and sold in the United States by American Velcro, Inc., under the trademark Velcro.

It will be seen that strap 30 may be affixed and encircled about a conventional suitcase in a manner similar to that for FIGURE 1, whereupon the free end 32 is threaded through buckle 50 and thereafter encircles a handle or other suitable portion of one or moreadditional suitcases.

Free end 32 is then doubled back under itself until the fastening material 55 is in opposed alignment. The fastening materials are then pressed into locking engagement with each other and thereafter held in such engagement by the gravitational force of the additional pieces of luggage. Fastening material 55 may be attached to the free end 3 2 in a wedge shape, as shown, for greater gripping power, although this is not necessary for the successful operation of this fastening means.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a further alternate embodiment of the fastening means included in my luggage sling. As here embodied, the fastening means comprises a conventional buckle 50, through which strap 30 is threaded as in the embodiment of FIGURE 5; a book 60 fastened to the free end 32 of the strap; and a grommet 61 formed in the strap 30 a predetermined distance from end 32. Thus, as in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, with end 3 1 fixed to the buckle 50, free end 32 is threaded therethrough, encircles the additional pieces of luggage, and is thereafter doubled back over the strap and hooked in grommet 6-1.

In each of the foregoing embodiments it is intended that strap portion 30 of the luggage sling 10 be formed of a single-continuous strap having one end affixed either directly or indirectly to the buckle member. It will be understood that, where one end is affixed directly to the buckle, the other free end passes around some portion of the carrier device, in addition to encircling the suitcase, before being threaded through the other end of the buckle so that when the strap is cinched up, the case is securely mounted to the carrier device.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an alternate luggage sling 70, comprising 'a first strap 71 passing around a first piece of luggage 14 and a wheeled carrier device (not shown), to which it is securely cinched, and a second, separate strap 72 having a ring 74 afiixed to one end thereof and a retaining ring 76 afiixed to the other end. Strap 71 is similar to strap 30 and may be cinched about luggage piece 14 through the buckle-hook member 40, as shown, or through a conventional buckle 50. It will be understood that when the conventional buckle is used, ring 74 would be replaced by a suitable hook-and-grommet, as illustrated in FIGURE 6 at 60 and 61. Also retaining ring member 76 should be of a sufiicient size so that ring 74, or hook 60, can pass therethrough. Finally, it will be understood that each end of strap 72 could be provided with a ring 74. Each ring would then be hooked over book 43 after passing the strap around the second case.

In use, in the embodiments of FIGURES l-6, the luggage sling is encircled about a first conventional suitcase and may also attach such suitcase to a wheeled carrier device. The sling is then cinched up snugly. through the buckle fastening means. The free end of the strap extending from the buckle is then looped around the handle of a second suitcase and folded back over, or under, itself to fasten with the fastening means in a manner as previously described. In the embodiment of FIGURE 7, after cinching the first suitcase to a wheeled carrier device, the separate strap is looped around the handle of the second case and fastened to the fastening means in a manner as previously described.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A luggage sling for securing together in side-'by-side relationship at least two pieces of luggage or the like, comprising: fiexible strap means adapted to substantially encircle a first piece of luggage and to be looped around at least a portion of .a second piece of luggage; fastening means on said strap means for securing said strap means about said first piece of luggage; and means provided on at least one end of said strap means for releasably securing said end to said fastening means after said strap means is looped around said second piece of luggage, whereby said second piece of luggage may be removed from said first piece of luggage while maintaining said strap means securely about said first piece of luggage.

2. A luggage sling for securing together in sideby-side relationship at least two pieces of luggage or the like, comprising: a strap member adapted to substantially encircle a first piece of luggage; fastening means on said strap member whereby said strap may be secured about said first piece of luggage; said strap member having a free end extending from said fastening means after being secured about said piece of luggage, said free end being of suflicient length so as to be adapted to encircle at least a portion of a second piece of luggage; said free end being further adapted to be folded back toward said fastening 7 means after encircling said portion of said second piece of luggage; and means provided on said free end for releasably securing said end to said fastening means, whereby said second piece of luggage may be removed from said first piece of luggage while maintaining said strap securely about said first piece of luggage.

3. A luggage sling as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening means comprises an integral buckle-hook member slidably lockably engageable with said strap member and wherein the free end of said strap member is provided with means adapted to hook onto said buckle-hook member.

4. A luggage sling as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening means comprises a buckle slidably lockably engageable with said strap for cinching said strap securely to said first piece of luggage, and a synthetic fastening material applied to both sides of the free end of said strap member and to two predetermined spaced sections of the generally outwardly facing surface of said strap, whereby said free end is looped around a second piece of luggage and folded back under itself until it is in alignment with said faced sections which are brought into opposed aligned relationship by said folding action.

5. A luggage, sling as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening means comprises a buckle slid-ably lockably enmet formed in said strap a predetermined distance from the free end :of said strap, and means provided on said free end adapted to hook into said grommet.

6. A luggage sling for securing together in side-by-side relationship at least two pieces of luggage or the like, comprising: a first strap member adapted to substantially encircle a first piece of luggage; fastening means on said first strap member for securing said strap about said first piece of luggage; a second strap member adapted to encircle at least a portion of a second piece of luggage; and means provided on at least one end of said second strap member for releasably securing said second strap to said fastening means, whereby said second piece of luggage may be removed from said first piece of luggage while maintaining said first strap member securely about said first piece of luggage.

' 7. A luggage sling as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fastening means comprises a buckle having hook means provided integrally therewith, said buckle being slidably lockably engageable with said first strap member, and wherein said second strap member is provided with ring means on one end and retaining means on the other end, whereby said pieces of luggage are secured together by looping said second strap around said second piece of luggage, passing said ring means through said retaining means and hooking said ring means on said hook means of said buckle.

8. A luggage sling as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fastening means comprises a buckle having hook means provided integrally therewith, said buckle being slidably lockably engageable with said first strap member, and wherein said second strap member is provided with ring means on each end thereof, whereby said pieces of luggage are secured together by looping said second strap around said second piece of luggage and booking each of said ring means on said hook means of said buckle.

9. A method of securing together in side-by-side relationship at least two pieces of luggage or the like, comprising: substantially encircling a first piece of luggage with strap means; threading said strap means through fastening means whereby said fastening means is provided slidably lockably engageable therewith; cinching said strap means securelyabout said first piece of luggage by means of said fastening means; looping said strap means around at least a portion of a second piece of luggage; and fastening said looped portion of said strap means to said fastening means, whereby said second piece of luggage may be removed from said first piece of luggage while maintaining said strap means securely about said first piece of luggage.

References'Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,057 12/=l900 Olson 294 855,159 5/1907 Brown 294-7-8 1,847,501 3/1932 Stahler 22458 2,623,760 12/1952 =Fornelit1s 214-374 2,707,035 4/ 1955 Lashley t22445 FOREIGN PATENTS 684,519 4/ 1964 Canada.

GERALD FORLENZA, Primary Examiner,

J. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A LUGGAGE SLING FOR SECURING TOGETHER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP AT LEAST TWO PIECES OF LUGGAGE OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING: FLEXIBLE STRAP MEANS ADAPTED TO SUBSTANTIALLY ENCIRCLE A FIRST PIECE OF LUGGAGE AND TO BE LOOPED AROUND AT LEAST A PORTION OF A SECOND PIECE OF LUGGAGE; FASTENING MEANS ON SAID STRAP MEANS FOR SECURING SAID STRAP MEANS ABOUT SAID FIRST PIECE OF LUGGAGE; AND MEANS PROVIDED ON AT LEAST ONE END OF SAID STRAP MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID END TO SAID FASTENING MEANS AFTER SAID STRAP MEANS IS LOOPED AROUND SAID SECOND PIECE OF LUGGAGE, WHEREBY SAID SECOND PIECE OF LUGGAGE MAY BE REMOVED FROM SAID FIRST PIECE OF LUGGAGE WHILE MAINTAINING SAID STRAP MEANS SECURELY ABOUT SAID FIRST PIECE OF LUGGAGE. 